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Mind: Introduction to Cognitive Science, by Paul Thagard. (1996) MIT Press. Latest edition. (the "textbook"). |
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Mind Readings: Introductory Selection on Cognitive Science, Edited by Paul Thagard. (1998) MIT Press. Latest edition. (the "readings"). |
Bryn Mawr College
CS 371: Introduction to Cognitive Science
Fall 2001
Course Syllabus
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Course Description | Materials | Readings, Assignments | Grading | Miscellany |
Professor: Douglas S. Blank, 246B Park Hall, 526-6501
E-Mail: dblank@brynmawr.edu
WWW: http://dangermouse.brynmawr.edu/Lecture Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:00 - 11:30AM
Room: Park 328.Laboratory Assistants:
Name and hours TBA.Laboratories:
- CS Mac Bay, Guild Hall (Computing Center) Hours: Open for 18 hours each day. Check Computing Center for more details.
- Computational Modeling Lab, Room 10, Park Hall (Science Building). This lab is open for several hours during the week: Schedule TBA
- Mathematics Department Computing Lab, Room 354 Park Hall (Science Building). This lab is also open several hours each day. Check the schedule posted at the door.
- Chemistry Lab, Room 234 Park Hall (Science Building). This is a PC lab with CodeWarrior installed which is available for use when classes are not meeting in that room.
Cognitive science is the inter-disciplinary study of intelligence in mechanical and organic systems. In this introductory course, we examine many topics from psychology, philosophy, computer science, linguistics, neuroscience, and mathematics. Some questions that we will examine: Can a computer be intelligent? How do neurons give rise to thinking? What is consciousness? No prior knowledge or experience with any of the sub-fields is assumed or necessary.
Required:
Mind: Introduction to Cognitive Science, by Paul Thagard. (1996) MIT Press. Latest edition. (the "textbook"). Mind Readings: Introductory Selection on Cognitive Science, Edited by Paul Thagard. (1998) MIT Press. Latest edition. (the "readings").
Students are responsible for checking the Web links for this class frequently in order to view announcements, readings, assignments, and other related information.Students are expected to read the assigned textbook material (listed on the website) for that day PRIOR to coming to class, but certainly prior to the following class session, in order to be able to ask and answer questions about the covered information.
There will be weekly reaction reports. These will be just a couple of pages of text written by you providing comment on the readings and lab experiments. Information on submitting these reports will be provided soon.
Exams will focus on material discussed in class lectures, but may include questions related to the assigned textbook chapters, other handouts and homework problems. Tests will be open-book, open-notes (no sharing) and will require understanding of the terminology and concepts covered in the course, with demonstration of ability to apply the analysis learned. Each exam will be based on its portion of the course, but mastery of prior knowledge will be assumed.
September 4: First Lecture
November 1: Midterm Exam
Final Exam will be during Exam Week - date and time TBA
All work will receive a grade between 0.0 and 4.0 (typically the Bryn Mawr scale 4.0, 3.7, 3.3, 3.0, 2.7, 2.3, 2.0, 1.7, 1.3, 1.0, or 0.0 will be used). At the end of the semester, final grades will be calculated as an average of all grades according to the following weights:
Written and Lab work 55% Midterm Exam 20% Final Exam 25% A curve may be applied to the total weighted scores across the entire class in order to obtain the final grades, at the discretion of the instructor.
The Bryn Mawr Honor Code policies are in effect for ALL aspects of this course (including homework and exams, which are expected to be your own work, done individually) and will be STRICTLY ENFORCED. The only help you can ask for or receive is from the Lab Assistants or a Bryn Mawr Computer Science faculty member. You can discuss general class issues with other students, and form study groups to review for exams. You are responsible for protecting your materials -- do not leave disks, printouts, files or notes in any place where they might be taken or viewed by others (this includes emails, the web, and server) -- making your materials available provides temptation for others, and places you (and them) at risk for expulsion from the College. Students are also expected to treat each other, the lab assistants, and faculty respectfully at all times. Proper classroom decorum will be expected (or you may be asked to leave).Deadlines for submission of assignments will not be extended, unless there is a serious reason that has been discussed with the instructor in advance of the due date. The excuse "my file was accidentally deleted" or similar whining will NEVER be considered acceptable -- start your projects early and back up your work frequently (and on multiple media) so that you do not experience losses or delays due to viruses or other computer failures.
Significant office hours will be available when the instructor can meet with students, either as posted or by advance appointment request. The TAs are available to help with coursework, but neither they nor the CS110 instructors (nor any one else) should solve your homework problems for you. There will occasionally be virtual office hours posted when students can send email to this instructor and response time will be faster than the typical 24-48 hours. This instructor encourages feedback from students in person (not during class time) or via email regarding the pace of the course, lecture style, assignments and exams, although it is expected that such communications be respectful and courteous. Under no circumstances will any private conversation with the instructor regarding the course ever be "held against" a student in grading.